Ankle Sprain Orthopaedic What is an ankle sprain? Ankle sprain means that the ligaments in your ankle have been injured, usually when they are overstretched during a sudden pull. What are ligaments? Ligaments are strong band-like structures that hold bones and joints together. The ligaments at the side of the ankle are the ones most commonly sprained. A damaged ankle ligament causes inflammation, swelling, and bleeding (which shows as bruising) around the affected joint. Moving of the joint is painful. How serious is an ankle sprain? The severity of a sprain can range from mild to severe, depending on how badly the ligaments have been stretched and whether the ankle joint has been made unstable. You cannot walk with a severe ankle sprain because it may be
very painful. Usually, the more pain and swelling you have, the more severe is your ankle sprain and the longer it will take to heal.